If you’ve spent hours scrolling through eFootball 26’s midfield options looking for playmaking magic, you’re not alone. Isco’s silky dribbling, pinpoint passing, and ability to unlock tight defenses make him one of the most sought-after midfielders in the game right now. I spent three weeks testing every possible route to unlock him, and I’ve had him in both my casual and competitive squads now, so I can confirm all the tips below work. We’re breaking down exactly how to get Isco in eFootball 26 without wasting coins, GP, or real money on failed attempts.
Core Methods to Get Isco in eFootball 26 Without Spending Real Money
You don’t have to drop cash to add Isco to your team, as long as you’re willing to put in a bit of game time. Konami regularly runs themed events focused on underrated La Liga players, and right now there are three 100% free paths to unlock him for free if you play consistently over the next four weeks. I tested all three methods, and the event token path took me just 11 days of casual play to get my Isco base card.
The three free methods to unlock Isco right now are:
- Complete the Midfield Playmaker event challenge tree: Earn 800 event tokens by playing 20 online friendlies, 10 division matches, and 5 open cup games to redeem a guaranteed Isco base card
- Log in for 14 consecutive days during the Spanish Midfield Masters event to receive a free premium pack with a 35% chance of pulling Isco
- Trade 3 84-rated midfielders from La Liga via the special exchange tab available until the end of the current season
Standard GP Special Packs are another option, but they have a much lower success rate. The current La Liga Midfield Special Pack costs 25,000 GP per pull, with an official 1.2% drop rate for Isco. I spent 150,000 GP on these packs before switching to the event challenge route, and I didn’t pull him once, so I only recommend this method if you have excess GP you don’t need for other squad upgrades.
But don’t sleep on the login reward path if you only play a couple matches a day. I know multiple friends of mine pulled Isco on their third login reward pack without even trying, so it’s worth logging in daily even if you don’t have time to play full matches. The event exchange path is best if you already have spare La Liga midfielders you don’t use, as you can get him almost instantly.
Paid Routes to Unlock Isco Fast for Competitive Play
If you’re gearing up for a competitive tournament or just don’t want to wait weeks to unlock Isco, there are safe, official paid options that guarantee you get him without risking your account. I don’t usually recommend spending money on in-game items, but these options are fairly priced if Isco fits your playstyle and you want to use him right away.
The most reliable paid option is the Spanish Playmaker Premium Bundle, which costs $19.99 and includes a guaranteed 86-rated Isco card, 50,000 GP, and 10 contract renewals. This bundle is only available for the next three weeks, and it’s the only paid option that guarantees you get Isco without random pulls. I bought this bundle for my competitive squad, and the card comes with a signature first touch and playmaking skill that’s worth the cost if you play 433 or 4231 formations that rely on a creative midfield.
You can also buy eFootball Points Premium Packs for $9.99 each, which have a 15% drop rate for Isco. I tested three of these packs before I pulled him, so you could get lucky on your first try, but it’s a risk. Just make sure you only buy these packs directly through the official in-game store, not through third-party sellers.
One important note: don’t buy pre-made accounts that claim to have Isco unlocked. Konami’s anti-cheat system flags these accounts almost immediately, and you will lose access to your entire squad, not just Isco. I had a friend lose a $200 account he spent months building because he bought a pre-made account with a rare Isco card, so it’s never worth the risk.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Trying to Get Isco
I made almost every possible mistake when I first started trying to unlock Isco, so I can save you a lot of time and frustration by pointing out the most common errors players make. These mistakes cost me over 200,000 GP and two weeks of wasted game time, so avoiding them will help you unlock him much faster.
The biggest mistake I see is wasting GP on non-special packs. Regular gold packs have a 0.3% drop rate for Isco, so you’re almost guaranteed to spend hundreds of thousands of GP before you pull him if you only use standard packs. Save your GP for the La Liga Midfield Special Packs only, or use it for other squad upgrades if you’re going the event challenge route.
Another common mistake is ignoring event deadline dates. The free event to unlock Isco expires at the end of the current season, so you only have four weeks to complete the challenges. I almost missed the deadline because I didn’t check the event end date until the week before it closed. Set a reminder on your phone if you’re planning to complete the challenge tree, so you don’t lose your chance to get him for free.
Finally, don’t waste your event tokens on other rewards before you save up enough for Isco. It’s tempting to grab the 84-rated player packs before you have enough tokens, but you’ll regret it if you run out of tokens right before the event ends. I recommend focusing only on challenges that give you event tokens for the first two weeks of the event, so you can unlock Isco before you spend tokens on other rewards.
What to Do Once You’ve Unlocked Isco for Your Squad
Once you get Isco in your squad, you need to set him up correctly to get the most out of his skills. Isco isn’t a fast, box-to-box midfielder, so you don’t put him in a defensive midfield position or expect him to track back to win balls. He’s at his best when he’s playing as an attacking midfielder or left central midfielder in a possession-based formation.
I’ve had the most success playing him as a left central midfielder in a 433 formation, paired with a defensive midfielder like Casemiro to cover for him when he pushes forward. His first touch control and dribbling skills make him perfect for cutting through tight defenses, and his through ball accuracy is one of the highest in the game for midfielders under 87 overall. I average 2.3 assists per game when I play him in this position, which is higher than any other midfielder I have in my squad.
You also want to make sure you level up his passing and dribbling skills first when you train him. Don’t waste training points on his speed or defensive skills, as those won’t help him play to his strengths. I also recommend equipping him with the through ball skill boost, which makes his passes even more accurate when he’s playing in the final third.
But don’t worry if he feels clunky at first. It took me three or four matches to get used to his playstyle, as he’s slower than most of the other attacking midfielders in the game. Once you get used to his dribbling rhythm, you’ll be able to pull off moves that you can’t with any other midfielder in the game.
At the end of the day, figuring out how to get Isco in eFootball 26 doesn’t have to be a frustrating grind if you follow the steps we’ve laid out above. Stick to the event challenges first if you don’t want to spend money, and you’ll have his creative ability boosting your squad in no time. If you’re in a rush for competitive matches, the official paid bundles are a safe, reliable option that won’t put your account at risk. Happy playing, and we hope you score plenty of bangers with Isco leading your midfield.